Electric switch



Dec. 0- 1924- 1,521530 o. HAMMERSTROM ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed April 28, 1924 i JII 18 um 36 7% //e INVENTOR 03cm? f/fiM/UER'S Tn'o/n BY x/M ATTORNEY-5 Patented Dec. 30, 1924.

inurso STATES PATENT FFICE.

OSCAR HAMMERSTROM, OF BRIDGEPOR-T, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE BRYANT ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF CON- NECTICUT.

ELECTRIC "swrrcri.

Switches, of which the fication.

following is a speci- My invention relates to electric switches, and particularly to the handle for a oneway rotary snap switch.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved oneway handle and the gages and operates the rotary snap spindle.

connection between handle element which enthe body of the switch In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a broken p snap switch of the sur handle embodying my lan View of arotary face type to which a invention is applied;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 1s an cnlar ged vertical section through the handle taken on the line 3-3,

Fig. 4;

Fig. 4 is an inverted plan of the handle;

Fig. 5 is a perspective of a detail; and

Fig. 6 is a detached perspective of the operating members for the handle.

It is desirable in one-way rotary snap switches to provide means for establishing a one-way connection between the switch handle and the rotary switch spindle, in

order that no undue strains may be placed upon the switch mechanism by an attempt to rotate the spindle in the wrong direction.

Various one-way connections between the handle and spindle elements purpose,

this

gested for the most p proved for assemble or expensive to construct.

present invention provi the parts of which are easy expensive to manufacture,

operation.

have been sug but they have difficult to The one-way handle, to assemble, inand etticient in art either des a While the handle may be applied to oneway rotary snap swit have, for the sake of illustration,

ches of any type, I indicated a surface switch of conventional type, comprising an insulating rotary switch spindle switch mechanism and within the usual cover means for attaching base 15 upon which the 16 is mounted, the contacts being housed 17. As a convenient the handle to the spindle 16, to drive the latter, the upper end 18 of the spindle is screw threaded.

The particular shape of the body 19 ot the handle is also immaterial, and I have shown a more or less conventional tluunbpiece or button of insulating material. The button is axially pierced by a hole 20, which is enlarged, at the spindle end of the button, to form a well 21 of considerably greater diameter. At appropriate points, preferably at opposite diametral points, channels 22 are formed in the sides of the well and extend the depth of the latter. Spaced from the spindle end of the button a pair of opposite recesses 23is formed in the wall of the well.

Carried by the button is a mandrel 2-1 tapped at 25 to screw on the threaded end 18 of the switch spindle. Intermediate the tapped end 25 and the shank 26 of the mandrel, which has a snug bearing in the hole 20 in the button, is the barrel-like body 27 of the mandrel. On the periphery of the body 27 are formed ratchet teeth 28, faced in one direction.

To establish a one-way drive between the handle body 19 and the ratchet mandrel 24. a cooperating ratchet member 29 is seated in the bottom of the well 21. The member 29 is formed from spring sheet metal, which may be readily blanked and formed to shape. It comprises a disc-like plate, from opposite sides of which extend lugs 30 which enter the channels 22 in the well. 21, and thus prevent rotation of the disc with respect to the handle body 19. Otlsct from opposite n'iargins of the disc are spring wings 31 which circumiercntially embrace the barrel 27 of the mandrel 24 and form spring dogs which engage the teeth 28 of the mandrel. The disc is centrally apertured at 32 to pass over the stem 26 of the mandrel, thus accurately locating the disc with respect to the barrel and permitting the stem 26 to pass into the hole 20 in the body 190i the button.

The mandrel and disc are retained in position within the well 21 by a washer 33. The latter is pierced at 34'. to pass over the spindle end of the mandrel, and is provided with opposite marginal lugs The dishing of the washer as shown in Fig. 5, so reduces its diameter that upon passing it 2% and spindle 16.

over the spindle end of the mandrel it clears the sides of the well 21; If the lugs be located in register with the' pockets' 23 and the washer flattened, the lugs enter the pockets and thus secure the washer against escape, so that it serves to retain the mandrel and ratchet element'29' assembled with respect to the body of the handle.

Resilient pressure upon the cover 17 may be exerted b the handle throu h as rin y 7 b p b washer and bearing washer 3'7, which are interposed between the cover and the body of the button, and confined'therebetween by the screw connection between the mandrel Inasmuch as the engagement between the mandrel and spindle is established by a screw threaded connection, and further inasmuch as the ratchet dogs 31 engage the teeth '28 ,ot the mandrel 2% only when the handle is rotated in a direction which will serve to screw the mandrel down on the spindle, means must beprovded by Which the mandrel may be engaged to rotate it in the opposite direction, so that the handle may bedctaclied. For this purpose the mandrel stem 26, which projects into" the hole 20 in the body 19, is transversely slotted,

' in both directions of rotation. The ratchet wings 31 of the clisc liowever, engage the teeth 28 of the mandrel 24 only when the handle is rotated in one direction, viz, the direction desired forthe proper operation of the switch mechanism. Upon rotation of the handle in the opposite direction the spring ratchet'w ngs 31 of the disc ride freely over the teeth 38 ofthe mandrel and no rotation in this direction is therefore imparted to the switch spindle;

The formation and assembly ofthe handle parts are both extremely simpleand economic-al. A one-way handle construction is thus provided which may be marketed at an insignificant advance in prlce over the usual handle.

The exact shape and form o t the parts spindle, said mandrel having peripheral ratchet teeth located in said well, in combination with a spring metal plate located in said well and held against rotation therein with respect to the buttonfand' spring wings'ofl'set from said plate. and embracing the ratchet teeth of saidmandrel to aliord' a one-way engagement between the body of the button and the mandrel. 7 7 2. In a handleior operatinga one-way rotary snap switch, an insulating buttonpierced to afford an'aXial hole of different" diameters, the portion of greater diameter forming a well at the spindle end of the handle, a sheet metal'plat'e resting against the bottom of the well and having oltset marginal spring arms projecting into, the well, and a mandrel having a stem passing through said plateinto the portion of, the hole of less diameter, and having a barrel" located in the, well and provided with peripheral ratchet teeth embraced by,- the offset spring arms oiw said plate, said mandrel having means for establishing an operative connection with af rota'ry spindle of the snap switch. V

3. A handle for rotary snap switches comprising an insulating body recessed toiatford a well, a ratchet member resting in said well and held against rotation therein, a mandrel' extending into said well and having peripheral teeth cooperating with the ratchet member held against rotation in said well, means for securing said mandreland ratchet mem'ber'in assembled position with respect to the handle body, means fojr-establishingconnection between the mandrel and the rotary spindle of the switch, and means for rotating said mandrel with respect to the 1 spindle in the direction ofthe slip between the cooperating ratchet elements of the handle. r V I In testimony whereofl have signed my, name to this specification;

' OSCAR HirMivinns RoM. 

